This is adapted from a lesson I saw taught at Columbia Heights High School during my observations, so I cannot take full credit. But here's the idea:
Purpose: Students will better understand how the use of sound can fill in visual gaps and actually create a stronger image in a viewer's mind.
Procedure:
Watch the shower scene from Psycho. First, do so with sound and video. Next, turn off the video but play the scene with audio. As they listen, as students to describe the sounds they hear. Finally, watch the scene a third time and ask the students to write down what shots seem to be missing in light of what they wrote down during the audio-only portion.
Depending on timing, the teacher could either hold a full-class discussion of the differences or could first break up students into small groups (probably just the students around them) to discuss what they wrote down. Then, during the full-class discussion, guide the conversation toward the concept that the sound of a stabbing can actually be more affective than seeing it, perhaps because our own imaginations are more powerful and visceral than what our eyes actually see.
Time: 20-30 minutes.
Dan, I really like your use of switching off the sound and then the video to focus attention on use of techniques, especially in terms of creating suspense--Hitchcock was a master of doing that. You make a key point of how he plays on all of the different senses to engage audiences.
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